Contour grinder



March 8, 1960 F. GUZOWSKI CONTOUR GRINDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1957 INVENTOR. fimw aazawsxl March 8, 1960 F. GUZOWSKI CONTOUR GRINDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1957 INVENTOR.

March 8, 1960 F. GUZOWSKI 2,927,405

CONTOUR GRINDER Filed Nov. 21, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7- INVENTOR. Hun/K Guzauisxl A run/er March 8, 1960 F. GUZOWSKI CONTOUR GRINDER 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Nov. 21, 1957 VENT R. Fem/k cv z zaws k/ nrraemf United States Patent O CONTOUR GRINDER Frank Guzowski, St. Clair Shores, Mich.

Application November 21, 1957, Serial No. 697,867

Claims. (Cl. 51100) This invention relates to contour grinders and more particularly to novel control means for the vertically adjustable table of a contour grinder.

It is the object of the present invention to provide in conjunction with the bed and top of a contour grinder a vertically adjustable work supporting table together with novel means for raising and lowering the same.

It is the further object herein to provide a novel form of journal box assembly associated with the bed of the contour grinder together with vertically adjustable pistons slidably positioned within said journal boxes, and carrying rack gears and associated with manually rotatable pinions within said journal boxes. 7

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel journal box and rack gear assembly wherein said journal boxes are closed from the exterior and contain quantities of oil to facilitate raising and lowering of the table.

it is a further object herein to provide a very efiicient sliding fit for the pistons which adjustably extend from the journal boxes whereby the table will be maintained perfectly horizontal throughout all positions of adjustinent and wherein the oil will cushion the downward movements of said pistons and table.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the present con-tour grinder.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. l on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the contour grinder.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively elevational views of the interior walls of the journal boxes showing the form of grooving therein.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on line 1111 of Fig. 3, but on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section taken on line 12-12 on Fig. 9, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section illustrating the use of the protective sleeve between the journal box mounting plate and the piston mounting plate, with said plates separated.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the vertically adjustable table.

' Fig. '15 is a section taken on line 15--15 of Fig. 14, illustrating the template control device in inoperative position'. v P Fig. 16 is a similar view with the template control devile inoperative position.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of theworkpiece illustrating the mounting of the template.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, the present contour grinder has a bed which includes the horizontally disposed top 11 and the depending legs 12. Column 13 is joined to and projects upwardly from the central rear portion of top 11 and by means of suitable brackets 14 fixedly mounts the electric motor 15, which in the preferred embodiment is a one horsepower motor. Associated with said motor is a suitable switch box 64 shown in Fig. 3.

Also forming a part of the contour grinder is the vertical motor driven shaft 16 carrying hub 17 against which is positioned the horizontal abrasive grinding wheel 18 with shaft 16 extending therethrough and with suitable means employed upon the interior of the wheel as at 19 for effectively securing said wheel upon shaft 16 for rotation therewith.

There is also provided the vertically adjustable worktable v20 which is horizontally disposed and spaced above top 11, and which is adapted for vertical adjustments with respect thereto in the manner hereafter described.

Said table has a transverse circular aperture 21 formed therethrough adapted to loosely receive portions of wheel 18 upon elevation of the said table with respect to the relatively stationary grinding wheel 18 which rotates on a vertical axis.

A pair of longitudinally spaced upright elongated jour nal boxes 22, preferably at rectangular cross section, are suitably secured to top 11 and extend therethrough, there being suitable rectangularly shaped apertures 23, Fig. 2, formed through the grinder top 11 to snugly receive said journal boxes, which are open at their upper ends.

For the purpose of anchoring said journal boxes there is provided for each journal box the mounting plate 24 Figs. 2 and 6 which is secured by the screws 25 to the upper open end of journal box 22. A corresponding rectangularly shaped central aperture is formed through plate 24 adapted to slidably receive vertically adjustable piston 30.

Each of the plates 24 is immovably secured in spaced relation to the top 11 by a series of fastening screws 26.

Each of the upright journal boxes consist of a series of right angularly related walls. These include the upright spaced rear and front walls 27 and 27', Fig. 7 and the respective end walls 28 and 29 which are suitably secured together defining the chamber for slidably receiving the vertically adjustable piston 30.

Piston 30 is preferably of rectangular cross section so as to be snugly and slidably received with a sliding fit within journal box 22.

As shown in Fig. 2, one side of piston 30 is notched to receive the elongated rack bar 31 which is of the same width as piston 30 and is secured to said piston by the fasteners 33, additional securing pins 32 being interposed as shown in Fig. 7.

For the purpose of securing the upper ends of pistons 30 to the undersurface of table 20 adjacent its opposite ends there is provided the rectangular plates 34 shown in Fig. 2. These are suitably secured, as is also shown in Fig. 5, directly upon the upper end of piston 30 as by the fastening screws 35.

The plates 34 in turn are effectively secured immovably to central undersurface portions of table 20 by the additional fasteners 36 shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

Referring again to Fig. 2, directly below piston 30 there is formed upon rack bar 31 a series of transverse rack teeth 37 which mesh with pinion 47 secured upon shaft 42 which extends transversely through each of the journal boxes in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

The piston and rack gear assembly is completed by Patented Mar. 8, 1960v the end plate 38, which is of the same cross sectional shape as the 'upper end of piston 30, and which is secured to the end of rack bari31 by the fasteners 39, and defines with said rack bar and with the lower end of piston 30 a gear chamber adapted to be filled with oil. To'complete the journal box there is provided bottom plate 46 secured in position, by the screws 41.

Manually rotatable shaft 42 is horizontally disposed upon thebed of the grinder below top 11 and at one endv bushings '50 within respective side walls 217 to complete the assembly and mounting of the pinions within said journal boxes.

'As'shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 11 said pinions are enmeshed with the rack teeth'37 whereby rotary movement of shaft 42 will effect raising and lowering of the slidable pistons 30 connected to vertically adjustable table 20.

Asuitable ratchet 51'is secured upon the outer end of shaft 42 inwardly of handle 45- andis engaged by pawl 52 which is urged towards said shaft by the coiled spring 53, said spring and pawlbeing nested within the horizontally disposed housing 54 secured upon end plate 43 shown in Fig. 4. Ratchet 51 is nested within housing 51' on the side of bed 11.

- Pawl 52 on the exterior of housing 54 has pivotally mounted-thereon at 55 the control cam 56 which is engageable with the end ofhous-ing 54 and pivoted'thereagainst for withdrawing pawl 52 as shown in Fig. 1, to permit controlled lowering of table 20 by gravity.

In view of the sliding fit of-the pistons 30 within the respective journal boxes 22 and the quantity of oil therein,'there is provided a cushion for the downward movement. of table 11 which under the force of gravity will slowly move downwardly upon release of pawl 52 from ratchet 51.

g It is contemplated that other types of manually operatedmechanism may be employed for withdrawing pawl: 52. With the pawl engaged with ratchet 51 as shown in Fig. 4, and knowing the distance between the ratchet teeth, the operator will know for example with each click" of the pawlthat upon rotation of handle 45in a clockwise direction the table will be elevated A; of an inch, for illustration.

Accordingly a workpiece may be suitably mounted and retained upon table 20* for purpose-of grinding its contour by the grinding wheellS; This can, of course, be accomplished throughout the height of the work in View of theaperture 21 in table 26- adapted to receive grinding wheel 18.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, a suitable undercut recess 60/ is formed withinthe top surface of journal box mounting plates 24 adjacent the central rectangular aperture therein adapted to receive the rectangular shaped piston wipers 59'. In the preferred embodiment these wipers are made of a felt material and cooperatively engage the exterior surfaces of pistons 30 for sealing the tops of the journal boxes and excluding dirt therefrom,-

Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the interior surface of side wall 28 of the journal box is formed with a herringbone shaped or otherwise irregular set of oil grooves 61.

Side wall 29 has in itsinterior surface the crossed grooves 62 whereas plate 27 has upon its interior surface a series of diagonal spaced. grooves 'These grooves may be of V-shaped, for illustration, and provide an effective means of transmitting lubricating oil upon the interior of the journal boxto facilitate vertical adjustment of piston 30 and the attached rack gear 31-37.

Dust collector housing 65, Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is secured at 66 to the side of motor support column 13 and projects laterally thereof opposite grinding wheel 18. The grooved wall portion 67 at the rear of housing defines at its lower end an outlet adapted for connection with a suitable exhaust hose, not shown.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 13, in order to more completely exclude dirt and dust from the interior of the journal boxes 22 there are provided for each of the pistons 30, the elongated flexible tube 68 preferably constructed of canvas. The tube loosely surrounds said piston and at its upper end' extends around the margin of the piston securing plate 34 and is retained thereon by metallic strap 69. Free end portions of said strap are outturned and secured together by the fastener 70 as also shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The lower open end of flexible tube 68 surrounds the outer margin of the corresponding journal box mounting plate 24 and is retained thereon by the metallic strap 69 and the fastener 70. Fig. 2 illustratesthe folding of the sleeve inwardly when plates 34 and 24 are brought together, whereas the fragmentary illustration in Fig. 13 showsthe POSitiOItOffthe flexible tube when the plates are fully separated.

Referring to Fig. 8, it is noted that the grooves 62 at the upper ends of walls 29 run to the edges as at.71 to thereby provide breather openings for any entrapped air. upon the'inten'or of the journal boxes facilitating downward movement of pistons 30.

Referring to Figs. 14'through 17' there is provided. as a part of the present contour grinder a template engaging follower. Table 20'has a peripheral flange 72 and aperture 21 adapted to receive the grinding wheel 18 has facing the front thereof i.e., towards the front ofthe machine the narrow radialslot 73 which communicates with aperture 21 and is adapted to receive the template follower 88 hereafter described.

The undersurface of table 20'is slotted or machined at 7 4'to receive the elongated'ternplate follower support 75 which is mountedupon the undersurface of table 20 forwardly and radially of'table aperture 2 1 and in registry with slot 73. a

The forward end portion 76 of support 75 is threaded at 77 to threadedly receive rotatable screw 78 which extends outwardly and loosely through aperture 79 in table flange 72 and carries the manually rotative knob 80 adapted to effect radial adjustments inwardly and outwardly of support 75.

Coiled spring 81 is mounted on screw 78 and interposed in compression between the end portion 76 and the inner surface of flange 72; to assist movements of support 75 and to provide a more positive action under the control of knob 80;

Support 75 "has a central longitudinal slot 82 which. loosely receives the threaded stud 83 which depends downwardly from and is suitably joined to the undersurface of table 20; The internally threaded knob, 84 is mounted on stud 83 and is adapted to hold the support-75 inthe inoperative position shown in Fig. 15 or 'uponfurther adjustment of knobs!) retains support 75 in the operative position showniii Fig. 16.

The outer end of support 75 is recessed at 85 and has mounted thereon-the template follower block 86 secured thereto by screws 87. Block 86 has the upright templatefollower '88 projecting therefrom as-shown in Figs. 14 and 15 and which in Fig. 15 lies flush with the top oitable 20 when notin-use.

The forwardly arranged depressed stop 89 on block 86 operatively and'retainingly engages the undersurface of table 20 as shown-in Fig-l5: At the same timefollower- 88 is at the forward end of slot 73. In order to place At the same time follower 88 as well as the forward projection 89 clears the edge of slot 73 so that upon tightening of knob 84 the support will assume the position shown in Fig. 16 with said follower projecting slightly above the top surface of the table a distance of approximately of an inch, for illustration.

In this position, the follower along its inner edge is adapted to be operatively and slidably engaged by the profile 90 of the template 91. j

A pair of spacers 92 are positioned below the undersurface of work W and the template 91 is mounted upon the undersurface of said spacers and secured immovably with respect to said work by the fastening screws 93 and dowels 94.

In operation, when it is desired to grind a contour in the exterior surface of a workpiece W, the preformed guide template 91 is secured to the undersurface of the work as shown in Fig. 16.

The profile 90 of the template is arranged so as to lie adjacent and below the edge of the workpiece to be machined. It is contemplated that the profile 90 could extend beyond the edge of the workpiece.

In use the workpiece is manually slid over the top surface of table 20 transversely thereof so that the surface to be machined or ground is engaged by the power rotated grinding wheel 18. Where it is desired to accurately form such outer surface a template 91 is employed.

Accordingly, the follower 88 so limits the positioning of the work with respect to the grinding wheel as the template and work is moved across the inner surface of said follower that eventually there is formed in the corresponding surface of the workpiece a profile which exactly corresponds to template profile 90.

A grinding wheel dresser is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 and consists of the plate 95 on table 20 having a longitudinal slot 96 by which the dresser is secured to the top surface of table 20, using fastener 97. This permits accurate location of the dresser.

Plate 95 terminates in upright 98 which is adapted to threadedly receive therethrough the horizontally disposed knob screw 99 which carries at its outer end the diamond 100 or equivalent abrasive material.

In order to dress the grinding wheel 18 from time to time it is necessary to manually elevate table 20 as desired through the turning of handle 45. During grinding it will frequently become necessary to change the elevation of table 20 and for this purpose the operator uses handle 45.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a contour grinder, a bed having a vertically apertured horizontal top, an upright column on said top for supporting a power operated grinding wheel rotatable on a vertical axis, a vertically adjustable worktable spaced above said top, a pair of longitudinally spaced upright elongated journal boxes secured to said top, extending through its apertures and depending therefrom, spaced upright pistons slidably positioned within said boxes respectively with their upper ends projecting above said top and secured to said table, rack gears on the lower ends of said pistons within said boxes, a manually rotatable shaft journaled upon said bed and through said boxes, a pinion within each box in mesh with a rack gear and secured upon said shaft, whereby rotation thereof effects raising and lowering of the table, the lower ends of said boxes being closed, said boxes containing a quantity of oil immersing said gears, the said pistons having a sliding fit within said boxes, said oil and entrapped air cushioning the gravitational downward movement of said table upon release of said shaft.

2. In a contour grinder, a bed having a vertically apertured horizontal top, an upright column on said top for supporting a power operated grinding wheel rotatable on a vertical axis, a vertically adjustable worktable spaced above said top, a pair of longitudinally spaced upright elongated journal boxes secured to said top, extending through its apertures and depending therefrom, spaced upright pistons slidably positioned within said boxes respectively with their upper ends projecting above said top and secured to said table, rack gears on the lower ends of said pistons within said boxes, a manually rotatable shaft journaled upon said bed and through said boxes, a pinion within each box in mesh with a rack gear and secured upon said shaft, whereby rotation thereof effects raising and lowering of the table, a ratchet secured on said shaft, a spring biased pawl normally and retainingly engaging said ratchet preventing downward movement of said table, and manually operable means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet.

3. In a contour grinder, a bed having a vertically apertured horizontal top, an upright column on said top for supporting a power operated grinding wheel rotatable on a vertical axis, a vertically adjustable worktable spaced above said top, a pair of longitudinally spaced upright elongated journal boxes secured to said top, extending through its apertures and depending therefrom, spaced upright pistons slidably positioned within said boxes respectively with their upper ends projecting above said top and secured to said table, rack gears on the lower ends of said pistons within said boxes, a manually rotatable shaft journaled upon said bed and through said boxes, a pinion within each box in mesh with a rack gear and secured upon said shaft, whereby rotation thereof effects raising and lowering of the table, apertured mounting plates secured upon the upper ends of said boxes and anchored upon the upper surface of said top, said pistons extending slidably through said plates, and additional mounting plates secured upon the upper ends of said pistons and anchored to spaced undersurface portions of said table, said first mounting plates being grooved in their top surfaces around said pistons, and fiat apertured felt wipers nested in said grooves for sliding engagement with said pistons.

4. In a contour grinder, a bed having a vertically apertured horizontal top, an upright column on said top for supporting a power operated grinding wheel rotatable on a vertical axis, a vertically adjustable worktable spaced above said top, a pair of longitudinally spaced upright elongated journal boxes secured to said top, extending through its apertures and depending therefrom, spaced upright pistons slidably positioned within said boxes respectively with their upper ends projecting above said top and secured to said table, rack gears on the lower ends of said pistons within said boxes, a manually rotatable shaft journaled upon said bed and through said boxes, a pinion within each box in mesh with a rack gear and secured upon said shaft, whereby rotation thereof effects raising and lowering of the table, apertured mounting plates secured upon the upper ends of said boxes and anchored upon the upper surface of said top, said pistons extending slidably through said plates, additional mounting plates secured upon the upper ends of said pistons and anchored to spaced undersurface portions of said table, and elongated flexible tubes loosely surrounding said pistons with their lower ends encircling and secured to the said mounting plates respectively andwith their upper ends encircling and secured to said additional mounting plates respectively.

5. In a contour grinder, a bed having a vertically apertured horizontal top, an upright column on said top for supporting a power operated grinding wheel rotatable on a vertical axis, a vertically adjustable worktable spaced above said top, a pair of longitudinally spaced upright elongated journal boxes secured to said top, extending through its apertures and depending therefrom, spaced upright pistons slidably positioned within said boxes respectively with their upper ends projecting above said top and secured to said table, rack gears on the lower ends 7 of said pistons within said boxes, a manually rotatable shaft journaled upon said bed and through said boxes,- a pinion within each box in mesh with a rack gear and secured upon said shaft, whereby rotation thereof efiects raising and lowering of the table, said table being apertured below said grinding wheel, an elongatedtemplate follower support mounted upon the undersurface of said tablev forwardly and radially of the table aperture, a follower on said support projecting through and above said table, means on said table engaging said support for effecting radial adjustment thereof, means on said table for securing of said support thereunder, a workpiece slidable mounted on said table for movement transversely thereof while in engagement with said grinding. wheel, and a template secured to the undersurface of said workpiece and having a profile, said profile upon sliding engagement with said follower-heme adapted to guide movements of the workpiece' relative-to said grinding wheel fo'r'providing in the edge of said workpiece a surface corresponding to said profile.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS har a- 

